WE KNOW 23 of the teams that will feature in next summer’s World Cup and the identity of the nine countries who will fill the remaining slots will be revealed over the next week.
There are four more European places on offer, three spots to be secured in the African qualification and they’ll be joined by the winners of the two intercontinental play-offs.
Here’s who has already qualified.
World Cup 2018 finalists
Europe: Belgium, England, Germany, Iceland, Poland, Russia (as hosts), Serbia, Spain, France, Portugal.
Africa: Egypt, Nigeria.
Asia: Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea.
North, Latin America: Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama.
South America: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia.
And here’s who is still left in contention.
Europe
The four European play-offs are two-legged affairs starting tonight with Northern Ireland hosting Switzerland in Windsor Park and Croatia facing Greece in Zagreb. Both those return legs are scheduled for Sunday evening in Basel and Athens respectively.
Tomorrow night Italy travel to face Sweden in Stockholm before the return leg in Milan next Monday night.
And in fixture details you already know, Ireland are heading to Copenhagen for Saturday’s showdown with Denmark before meeting them again in Dublin next Tuesday night.
Africa
The final round of qualification is almost complete in Africa with Nigeria and Egypt the only teams assured of a trip to Russia next summer.
In Group A, Tunisia need only a point in their match against Libya to qualify with DR Congo, three points behind in second place, having to win against Guinea and hoping Tunisia slip up. Both games take place Sunday night.
In Group C, Morocco (9 points) and Ivory Coast (8 points) are left in contention with their tie in Abidjan on Sunday evening set to settle the issue.
Finally in Group D, Senegal (8 points) can clinch qualification with a victory tomorrow evening away to South Africa (4 points).
If they draw or lose, it will see the contest go down to next Tuesday’s final round of fixtures when Burkina Faso (6 points) meet Cape Verde (6 points), and Senegal entertain South Africa.
Intercontinental Playoffs
In the intercontinental fixtures, Honduras take on Australia in the CONCACAF-AFC play-off. The first leg is on tomorrow in San Pedro Sula before the return leg in Sydney next Wednesday.
New Zealand meet Peru in the OFC-CONMEBOL play-off. The first leg is on Saturday in Wellington and the return leg is scheduled for Lima next Wednesday.
Subscribe to The42 podcasts here:
